2.5

My little girl is 2.5 years old today. These milestones are always kind of bittersweet for me. She is changing so fast and I wish she would slow down. Every time she does something new, I'm so proud of her and yet, at the same time, I just want to go sit in a corner and have myself a little cry because she's not my baby anymore. I missed the first year of her life, you would think she could show me the common courtesy to slow down and quit learning and stuff. But, no, this is the way it was meant to be.

My girl, LOVES to dance. Turn on some music and she will dance herself into a frenzy. She is as good of a dancer as I am. I am serious. I have thought about getting her into dance classes, but I don't want her to make all the other kids jealous. She is PHENOMENAL! I think she is the next Martha Graham. She reminds me a lot of a young Elaine off of Seinfeld, complete with the little kicks.




Have I mentioned that she talks ALL THE TIME now? Well, she does, and sometimes, it's pretty dang funny.

Here's some of my favorite things.

One more time? - after a book, a song, a popsicle

Cheers! - If we each have one of the same thing, they must touch and we say "Cheers _____!" Sometimes this is a drink, if we are both wearing a hat, our noses, our thumbs. Anything really.

Fleemo! - Flamingo!

Mayme tay-mahr-wow - maybe tomorrow- usually said right after I have said "Not right now, honey."

Dah-doh! Dah-doh! - Donald! as in Donald Duck

Mick clue Mow Cluh! - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!

Mother, I would like to use the computer so that I might get a jump start on studying for my college entrance exams. I'm not even sure when/where she learned about college entrance exams....

She has an imagination that rivals my own growing up. She refuses to stand on the bath mat next to the bathtub because she is afraid to step on the ladybugs (it's ladybug-free). We play lots of hide-and-seek for Toodles (it's a 'character' off of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse). She makes the best popcorn cookies and ice cream soup you have ever had the pleasure of eating. And she makes THE BEST coffee I have ever had. And her imagination is not ALL about cooking....there are always puppies and kittens running around our house, eventhough I am very allergic....

I wake up every day, anxious to see what new thing she will learn or discover. I am so proud of her, but at the end of the day, once she is sound asleep, I sometimes go back to look at pictures of her from the day we met. I still wish I could have just a little more time with my baby. But no, this is the way it was meant to be. In six months, she will be three. 3!!!! If you need me, I'll be in the corner...having myself a little cry.

PS. She's not wearing real earrings, they are the stick-on kind. She has to wait until she's 13 for the real thing. But her armband tattoo?? Totally real.

And the other way we spent the weekend.

FREAKOUT! (I am having trouble editing, so just ignore the part after she starts swinging around the shopping cart.)

Our weekend in pictures

It was bitterly cold outside all weekend long (today, with the windchill, it was way below zero), so we stayed at home where it was warm. Here's how we spent the weekend.

#1 Veggin' out. #2 Diaper Patrol #3 I know you told me not to touch it, but I'll keep trying for the next 15 minutes when I move on to the next thing I'm not supposed to touch. #4 See??? I CAN play independently. #5 NO!! YOU say 'cheese'!

Cowboy dreaming

The Kid woke up very, very early this morning and she was crying. This wasn't her normal nighttime cry, this was her 'get in here NOW because I'm about to have a full scale freak out' cry. So, I go into her room and rub her tummy and ask her what's wrong.

Her answer?

"I don't want to play the cowboy game!"

Actually, that is the translation. What she actually said was "I want play cow boy game!" I know she means 'don't want' because everytime I set a meal in front of her with mushrooms in it, she will pick one out and say "I want eat mush roooooom! Yeeeeeech!" But I'm still unclear as to whether she was dreaming about cows (often called cowboys by TK) or cowboys (like John Wayne). And what could this game be? Curious.

Babies on planes

There was an story on all the news sources today about a family that was on a plane and their 3 year old daughter would not stop screaming and crying so they were kicked off the plane.


It's a good thing China Southern didn't have the same policy.




















On a totally unrelated note, the picture above was taken one year ago. I can't even believe that that is the same little girl. She looks so scared and tiny and sad.

What a difference a year makes!

A perfect day

Somedays as a parent, I feel like I do a much better job than other days. Today was one of the really great days. We didn't have any fights over getting dressed, fixing her hair, putting on her coat, getting strapped into her car seat. The Kid was in a great mood, I was in a great mood. We went to the playland and every few minutes, she would come over and give me a hug. (That's pretty unusual....she normally only wants to hug when I want her to do something she doesn't want to do.) Everywhere we went, some stranger was stopping us to say how well behaved The Kid was. I don't really care what people say, but it is nice to have them commenting on the good things. Usually, people walk away from us raising an eyebrow and shaking their head. This is usually right after The Kid has been acting like a lunatic and I know in their mind they are thinking 'glad that's not my kid'.

It's funny. A couple of years ago, my definition of a perfect day would have been so different from today. I probably wouldn't have spent ANY time at a mall playland. I wouldn't have made up silly songs and sing them in public to make my daughter laugh (I would do just about anything to hear that laugh). I would have been the one raising an eyebrow and shaking my head at some mom who was having a difficult day with their child.

I wouldn't trade places with 2-years-ago-me for anything......today, that is. We'll see about tomorrow.

Snow Day 2007

ABC about me

A - available or taken: Available (Do you HEAR that Orlando???)
B- best friend: I have a few very close friends that I would consider my best friends. And that includes family members
C- cake or pie: Costco cake
D- drink of choice: Coffee or Diet A&W Root Beer
E-essential item you use everyday: Pens, phone, my hands, my feet, my brain.....
F-favorite color: Green or purple
G-gummy bears or worms: Gummy Bears
H-hometown: Ankeny, IA
I-indulgence: St&rbucks coffee on occassion
J-January or February: February. It's different than all the other months.
K-kid's names: Miss R
L-life incomplete without: My daughter and the rest of my family (that includes friends!)
M-marriage date: 11/11/11
N-number of siblings: Two sisters
O-oranges or apples: Apples and sometimes oranges if I'm feeling brave
P-phobias or fears: Unripened fruit, feet, clowns, bugs....the list goes on for days
Q-favorite quote: "I never did mind the little things" and "NO, Steven! Only when I say so! Only when I say!"
R-reason to smile: My daughter's laugh. Hugs and kisses from her, too.
S-season: Winter! I LOVE snow! I wish we had gotten the snow instead of Colorado!!!
T-tag 3 people: Nah...I just did it because Donna did it.
U-unknown fact about me: I am teaching myself how to play the psaltry.
V-veggie I don't like: Brussel sprouts
W-worst habit: I mutter to myself constantly
X-xrays: My back a few years ago.
Y-your favorite food: Pasta with tons of garlic and mushrooms
Z-zodiac: Libra
.

Weekend Conversations

TK: What do, momma?
Me: I'm fixing breakfast.
2 seconds later...
TK: What do, momma?
Me: I'm still fixing breakfast, sweetie.
2 seconds later...
TK: What do, momma?
Me: The same thing I was doing 2 and 4 seconds ago, honey.
-Pause-
TK: What do, momma?
Me: What did I say before?
TK: What do, momma?

After breakfast, as I am heading into the loo
TK: Where momma go?
Me: I'm in the bathroom, honey.
TK: Oh, yeah!
TK: What momma do?
Me: Where is your Squeaky Mouse?
TK: Squeaky Mouse! Oh, yeah! Squeak squeak squeak!

Later in the day, while coloring together
TK: What do, momma?
Me: I'm coloring. What are YOU doing?
TK: I play, momma. What do, momma?
Me: Still coloring, honey.
TK: Oh! What do, momma?

Repeat these scenes 563 times.
The End.

The funny thing is, I worried about her being delayed in speech. NOW, she won't stop talking. She went to bed tonight at 8:30 and was still talking to herself at 10:30!!!

Chinese New Year Spectacular Highlights

Grandmumsy found this neat video of scenes from a Chinese New Year production. Enjoy!

Christmas Video

I can't seem to get the video of The Kid singing to upload, but here is an equally cute little video from Christmas morning.

Le Google

Someone came across Le Blog today by doing a G00gle search for poo pooped pooing pooping poopy poopies bm stinky. They hung around for 4 minutes and 28 seconds. J'espère que je ne suis pas stinky ou poopy.

Another one came to visit after doing a search on Orlando Bloom. Nice to know that I'm not the only one in need of a restraining order. Clearly, this blog was not what they were looking for.

Predictions for 2007

Greetings! It is now 2007 and instead of looking back at what happened in 2006, I thought I would take this time to talk about what I think will happen in 2007. Sound like fun??

• I plan on taking some sort of a trip with my daughter this year. I so love a road trip and it's about time The Kid got used to them.
• The Kid has been talking up a storm lately and I think that before her 3rd birthday, she will be reciting Shakespeare or the complete lyrics to The Gambler.
• Orlando Bloom will lift the restraining order and start taking my phone calls.
• I hope to take my daughter to her first play this year.
• Two words: potty training (we've actually begun......it ain't goin' so hot)
• I think my daughter will make a friend who's mom is fun and cool and we all become the bestest of friends. Our daughter's will play at the park and my new fun and cool mom friend and I will watch our children adoringly, while sipping our iced coffee drinks from St&rbucks and exchange some of our favorite recipes.
• Speaking of, a St&rbucks will open up on my route to work (PLEASE!!!)
• The Kid will learn to love sleeping in on the weekends.
• In a brief moment of weakness, I will relent and let The Kid watch Nick Jr. (She still does not know of Dora or Spongebob and I'm really okay with that.)
• After my moment of weakness, I will spend a small fortune in Dora paraphernalia.
• Two more words: TomKat: Splitsville.
• I will get The Kid into some type of activity this year: dancing, gymnastics, music, art...
• I will love my kiddo more each day and she will find new ways to amaze me.

I wish you all health, happiness and peace in the new year!

Poll

I'm taking a poll...

Is that the most mischievous little face you have EVER seen??

Christmas 2006 in review

When The Kid came out into the living room Chrismas morning, she totally ignored all the presents and the tree and went straight to Grandmumsy.

Finally acknowledging the presents.

Next year, a KEYTAR! And also note the Blue Mickey Shirt from Santa....a big hit.


















Playing with some of the toys that 'Santa' was too busy (or lazy) to wrap before the BIG fun began.








All in all, we had a wonderful Christmas and hope that all of our friends and family did, too. Check back in a day or so, as I hope to have video of The Kid's first lounge act performance.

Merry Christmas!

For those of you who celebrate it, Merry Christmas! We are hoping Santa will be good to you all this year.

Three birds.....one post

Donna over at Double Happiness is having another Family Fotofun picture challenge. The challenge this week is PIGTAILS! (click on over to see some of the other adorable participants!)

Last week's challenge was PAJAMAS and the challenge before that was Christmas Tree Photos so I should be all caught up now!

Doctor and bed time

Little Miss had her 2 year checkup today (yeah, I know....I'm four months late. Deal.) Anyway, she is on the US growth charts! 10th percentile for height and 25th percentile for weight. She also had to have about 15 gallons of blood drawn and some shots. Needless to say, we got ice cream afterwards.

Here's her newest thing.....we have had variations on this for the last few nights, but this was pretty much how it went down tonight. I put her to bed (which she has ALWAYS gone to bed super easy) and as soon as I get her all tucked in, she jumps up and starts saying "nowantgonightnight nowantgonightnight". We finally get settled from that and then she goes to bed. TONIGHT, she wakes up about 2 hours after bedtime, and is JUMPING up and down in her crib screaming "OWOWOWOWOWOWWOWWW! MAMA! OW! OW! OW!"

I go in and ask her what's wrong. "Knee hurt mama!"
"Which one?" I say.
"Knee hurt mama!"

I pick up her nearest leg and give her knee a kiss. "Thanks mama."
"You are welcome honey. Now go back to sleep."

I go back to what I was doing and five minutes later hear "MAMA!!! MAMA!!!! MAMA!!!! Oh, no! OH, NO!!!"

I try to tell her that everything is fine and just to go back to sleep but she starts crying really hard. I go in her room and she is standing up in bed again and I see tears on her face (I am such a sucker!).

"What's the matter, honey?" I ask.
"Poo, mama! Chay dia!" (change diaper)

There are no *signs* that she needs her diaper changed, but I take her word for it (big mistake). As I suspected to begin with, there was no reason to change her diaper, so I start getting her all dressed again.

"No caca-poopoo, mama?" she asks. "No honey."
"No fahhhhr, mama?" "No sweetie," I answer.
She stands up and gives me the sweetest hug and says, "I sorry, mama. I sorry."

Light a candle

This was from an email I received...
Today, Bristol-Myers Squibb, the pharmaceutical monolith that charges nearly $1,000 for a 30 day supply of one of its HIV/AIDS medications, is donating $1 to the National AIDS Fund for each person who simply visits their website and "virtually lights a candle."

The tally is near 1, 500,000 now.

Please, please take a minute to "light a candle":

http://www.lighttounite.org/

Christmas with Santa

Here is the best Santa picture we have this year.

We went to see the mall Santa a couple of weeks ago and he was a jerk. The Kid wanted NOTHING to do with him so I had to be in the picture with them. All copies have been destroyed....

This was from my company Family Christmas Party. I bribed her to go up to him by telling her he would give her a candy cane. This was her LEAPING out of his lap as soon as she got the loot.

In other news, she DESPERATELY wants a 'blue Mickey shirt' from Santa. I *think* that Santa is going to be able to come through for her as long as the US Postal Service cooperates. She has also mentioned once or twice that she would like a choo-choo train. But I think that is just because ALL SHE TALKS ABOUT IS RIDING THE TRAIN AT THE MALL. Seriously. She is obsessed. This morning when she got up, I asked her if she had fun last night (meaning our Christmas Party) and she said "YEAH! Ride choo-choo train!!" I said "did you ride a choo-choo train yesterday??" "YEAH!!! Choo-choo train!!!" Grandmumsy denies that story.

Tonight when I put her down for bed this was the 'good night list'.

"Nigh-nigh blue Mick shirt!"
*Then mama must repeat*
"Nigh-nigh Santa Claus!"
*Mama repeats*
"Nigh-nigh Aww Pickles!"
*Mama repeats followed by hysterical laughter for a good 10 minutes.

Luck

There is a rumor circulating that come 2007, China will no longer adopt to single parents. When I first heard that, I was pretty upset. Not because I was planning on adopting again (I was going to think about it again in a few years.....but I wasn't committing to anything), but because now I no longer have the option. If I had decided to adopt again, I would have gone back to China because then the two kiddos would have a common bond. I know how close my sister and I are and I would love for The Kid to have that, too. But, as Doris Day sang, que sera sera.

After I thought all that through, then I was worked up thinking about my situation. If things in my situation had happened later, I might not have been able to be that sweet little girl's mom. I might not be a mom. That thought just about brings me to tears. I think about all the other hopeful 'someday' parents who maybe didn't luck into a single's slot like I did or who didn't quite meet all the requirements yet. I can't help but feel for them.

I don't buy the whole ladybugs and redthreads theories and all of that, but I do know one thing. My daughter's Chinese name means New Luck. And for whatever reason, we were lucky enough to both be in the right place at the right time.

Christmas Card tradition BEGINS!

This is the Christmas card picture of us kids that my parents sent out in 1978 (I was 5).

Note the $TAR WAR$ shirt I am sporting. (Nice of me to get all gussied up, wasn't it?? Apparently I didn't get the memo about the striped turtleneck sweaters.)

I have saved that shirt and will be forcing Ms. R to wear it for her Christmas Card picture in a couple of years. Funny, but it will be funky, retro and cool when she does it. I was just a nerd. Maybe she can pass it onto her child(ren) along with my Smurfette t-shirt I wore for my 3rd grade school picture.

Christmas 2006

I forgot to take a picture of her in front of the tree yesterday, so here it is today!

I'm also participating in Donna's Family Fotofun challenge this week. To see the other participants, click here!

Decorating the tree

Hanging ornaments
She was so careful...











So precise....













So intense.....

And everything she hung was in the same spot!

Turkey Dinner

Say, you wouldn't happen to know of a place a girl can take her bear and get some turkey would you?



Sadly, this is the ONLY picture I took on 'Thanksgiving'. It never fails. I had a long weekend and lots of things planned, and I end up getting sick.

Thanks

-To my family for being so supportive. You guys are the best and I couldn’t have accomplished half of what I have without you.

-To my friends….who are also a part of my family. I lucked out with all of you….well maybe not YOU (yeah, I’m talking about you, ya bum).

-To the inventors of coffee, thanks for making it possible for me to haul my carcass out of the house before noon every day.

-To the cast and crew of the greatest show ever, thanks LOST for making me MORE afraid to get on a plane than I already was.

-To my daughter for teaching me about all the important things; holidays, birthdays, clouds, trees, butterflies, etc….

-To a man and a woman that I have never met (but will always have a connection to), who made it possible for me to be a mom to the greatest little girl in the world.

That is her toy poodle pet carrier that insisted on wearing on her head for her nap.

These are the things that I am most thankful for this year. I hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Pictures! One for every month (I think)

Highchair Hi-jinxs

**This may become a regular segment**

Me: TK, what does Santa Claus say?
TK: Goo goo!
(I think she is confusing Santa and a turkey or combining them into her own Holiday icon. Instead of "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and "Gobble! Gobble!" we just have the multipurpose "Goo Goo!")

***

TK: Nee hel! Nee hel! (Translation: Need help! Need help!)
Me: What do you need help with, honey?
TK: Caaah boom! (Translation: Car go boom!) (This is followed by maniacal laughter, and rolling on the floor)

***
Scene: TK spots an unidentified object on the floor as I'm folding laundry.
TK: Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!!!
Me: What's the matter?
TK picks up the UIO from the floor and brings it to me as though it were toxic waste.
TK: Die shee! (Translation: Dryer sheet!)
Me: And the problem would be???
TK: OH NO!! Oh NO!!!!! YUCK!!
TK flings the dryer sheet at me and runs away as though it were going to eat her.

***
TK is eating her dinner.
TK: (mouth overflowing with food) MOH NOOD! (Translation: More Noodles!)
Me: Uhhhhh, I don't think so.
TK: MOOOOOOH NOOOOOOOD!
Me: Where will you put them? In your pants?
TK nods emphatically

Randomly funny

The other night, we were in the car heading home. This is the conversation that went on for 10 minutes...

The Kid: Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Me: What, honey?
The Kid: Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Me: Uh-oh, what?
The Kid: Tree!
Me: Tree?
The Kid: Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!

This whole exchange went on about 30 more times until I was laughing so hard I was crying. Then she started laughing. And then it started up again.

Things I Love

I love that my daughter is developing a wicked sense of humor. Ask her a question and more often than not, she will give you the wrong answer, just because she can.

I love how she never wants to give me a hug when I want one, but she will sneak up and surprise me with a hug. It never fails to choke me up.

I love how she says Hello, Goodbye and Night-Night to things. Every morning she says hello to her dragon. She rarely leaves the bathroom without saying bye-bye to her potty chair. And she always says bye-bye or night-night to the moon.

I love how she says mama and baby as if she were a pretentious British child....or Madonna.

I love that her favorite television show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and there will be hell to pay if it is missed.

I love that Donald Duck is ALWAYS referred to as Blue Donald and woe unto you who does not call him by his full and proper title.

I love that when she is in trouble she will slowly try to break eye contact and pretend like she doesn't know that I am talking to her. If she could whistle, she would.

FRANKENSTEINA!!!

Trick or treat event #1
Crackin' up at Spookapalooza with Auntie J.
Toddler Mosh Pit

Happy Halloween!

That's not stage blood on her face, it's chocolate.

We'll have pictures in her costume in a couple of days. Prepare to be terrified.

Footloose and Fancy Free

I was recently away on a business trip for 5 days. It was the first time I had been away from The Kiddo for more than a few hours since the day I met her. It was interesting to see how we both reacted to it.

According to Grandmumsy and Auntie J, she was fine and only seemed to notice that I was gone a couple of times and then she was over it. Well! Not that I wanted her to be inconsolable over me being gone or anything....but that kinda hurt. But maybe she was just having such a good time, that she didn't have a chance to miss me. Right?

I was another story. In the back of my head, I thought, "Hey! This'll be fun! It'll be kinda like being my old single self again! I can sleep without being brought out of a dead sleep by someone crying in the next room, come and go as I please, not have to change poopy diapers for a few days!" And while those things were nice, I really missed just having her with me. I missed that sloppy kiss and clingy hug every morning. I missed the fights over changing her diaper. I missed how every question I ask is ALWAYS answered with an emphatic NO (even if I'm asking if she wants a cookie). I missed her goofy grin every night after I put her to bed and she tries to give me one of her toys. I missed walking into the room and having her scream "Muh-mah!" and give me a great big knee hug. And yes, I did fight back a few tears and I probably bored my traveling companion to tears with all of my talk about The Kidlet, but I think I did pretty well. I just hope I don't have to do it again for awhile.

Weekend at the park

Saturday was a beautiful day for a little drive and some park time.
Crawling through the tunnels.
Note the static electricity IN the tunnels.
The Kid and Auntie J.